Renaissance Office of the Vice-Chancellor, The University of Guyana Vol. 2 Nos.1 & 2, Jan-Feb, 2017 WELCOME BACK STUDENTS! In this Issue: Turkeyen and Tain Talks 5 pg 20 Inaugural Vice-Chancellor’s Renaissance Lecture pg 18 VC reaches out to affected students pg 9 MoU signed with London South Bank University, UK pg 15 Renaissance Vol. 2 Nos. 1 & 2, January - February, 2017 Table of Contents TITLE PAGE The VC Speaks ................................................................................................................................. 4 Editor’s Note ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Did you know? ................................................................................................................................. 8 VC reaches out to affected students - following devastating fire at Cummings Lodge apartment building .............................. 9 CSSP signs contract with UG for prisons survey ........................................................................ 10 Dr Penny Sibert - Guyanese Fellow at Nottingham University .................................................. 11 Three awarded at Walter Rodney Creative Writing ceremony........................................... 12 First Diaspora Engagement Conference to convene in Guyana ................................................ 14 Prominent Professors visit UG - MoU signed with London South Bank University, UK .................................................... 15 First Annual Vice-Chancellor’s Cabinet Retreat ................................................................................ 16 The Inaugural Vice-Chancellor’s Renaissance Lecture - The importance of the Entrepreneurial University for nation building ............................. 18 Professor David Andrew Phoenix - Bettering Guyana’s education from the background ........................................................ 19 Turkeyen and Tain Talks 5 - Non-Communicable Diseases Matter ................................................................................ 20 Importance of the Entrepreneurial University for Nation Building............................................ 24 UG Trogans open Basketball season on a winning note ............................................................... 25 UG hosts Open/Career Day 2017...................................................................................................... 26 Proposed School of Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation (SEBI) ......................................... 28 RenaissanceRenaissance Vol. 2 Nos.Vol.1 1 No.2& 2, JanuarySeptember - February, 29, 2016 2017 The VC Speaks New Year, New Aims “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo The month of January often is a time to ponder and plan for the year ahead, and set goals and objectives. This often is done not just in the personal context, but in the professional one; not only by individuals, but also by institu- tions. There is wisdom in Michelangelo’s proposition above, whether the pondering and planning are being done by an individual or an institution, to guard against the danger he cited. I am mindful of this wisdom as I contemplate what this year’s Renaissance journey might entail. Thus, my intent is to aim high, and for two key reasons. One, I know we have the capacity to achieve great things by mobilizing the resources and goodwill of various relevant stakeholders. Moreover, our students and our society deserve more than educational and economic mediocrity. What, then, one might ask, are some of my high aims for 2017. They include construction of a student social complex and the establishment of a School of Entrepreneurship and Busi- ness Innovation (SEBI). The feasibility study team of local and international specialists and stakeholders is working assiduously to facilitate my submission of a proposal to our governing council at the end of March. Achieving big things in the pursuit of educational excellence requires investing in better salaries and working condi- tions of the people who are critical to the success of whatever big plans are made. Therefore, it should surprise no one that a reasonable salary increase would be on my list. Moreover, there should be no wonderment in hearing that tuition would need to be increased, to help meet the staff salary obligations and to enhance the quality of the educational experience. The conference on diaspora engagement being planned for the end of July is another big and bold aim. Also on my ‘aiming high’ list is the establishment of the University of Guyana Press and the launching of a mer- chandizing and branding initiative, including the unveiling of a new website. Yet, our aiming high pertains not only to bringing new initiatives to fruition. It extends also to things started earlier, such as Turkeyen and Tain Talks begun last semester, and the Vice Chancellor’s Renaissance Lectures, begun in Janurary. Will there be setbacks? Oh, yes! Should we allow the prospects of setbacks to prevent us from aiming high? Oh, no! So, mindful of Michelangelo’s prescient proposition, I invite you to join me in making a success of my aiming high this year. Our students and our nation deserve it. Keep on keeping on! Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, B. Soc. Sci., MA, MPhil, Ph.D. Tenth Principal and Vice Chancellor 4 Renaissance Vol. 2 Nos. 1 & 2, January - February, 2017 RenaissanceRenaissance Vol. 2 Nos.Vol.1 1 No.2& 2, JanuarySeptember - February, 29, 2016 2017 The Vice Chancellor’s January - February Quote “I come from the nigger yard of yesterday leaping from the oppressors’ hate and the scorn of myself; from the agony of the dark hut in the shadow and the hurt of things; from the long days of cruelty and the long nights of paindown to the wide streets of to-morrow, of the next day leaping I come, who cannot see will hear.” - Martin Carter 4 5 Renaissance Vol. 2 Nos. 1 & 2, January - February, 2017 Vice Chancellor’s Fund for Strategic Initiatives Editor’s Note Dear Readers, THE PROCESS The collaboration between the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and the Centre for Communication Studies (CCS) of The University of Guy- ana brings to you this Volume 2: Nos. 1and 2 editions of Renaissance, a monthly newsletter. Renaissance is the Vice-Chancellor’s medium of sharing with you our University’s developments. In this edition we acknowledge the re-opening of the University for Academic Year 2016/2017 Semester II. As we approach the end of the fifth week of classes we hope students are settled and in full working stride, to have a productive and successful semester. Denise Hopkinson-Braam Someof the new developments at UG include: an MOU signed with Editor London South Bank University; a contract with the Ministry of Pub- lic Security’s Citizen Security Strengthening Programme and the In- augural Diaspora Engagement Conference to be held in Guyana. Earlier this year a number of UG students and a few staff were affect- ed by an apartment fire. We commend the University’s administra- tion for their support to those affected. TheRenaissance team had an opportunity to profile visiting Professor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of the London South Bank Univer- sity and Dr Penny Sibert, Guyanese Fellow at Nottingham University. We hope you enjoy reading their stories. Additionally, in February all Faculties participated in UG’s Open Career Day, showcasing students’ work, existing programs and new programs envisioned for the future. We thank all those hard work- ing and dedicated staff and volunteer students for long hours spentin preparation for thousands of people who visited Turkeyen Campus on Career Day. As you read, be inspired to join us as we celebrate UG’s Renaissance! 6 UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA Vice Chancellor’s Fund for Strategic Initiatives Giving to UG Supporting UG can be achieved through monetary donations/material contributions in the form of gifts and/or sponsorship(s) THE PROCESS Send Cheques via All donations should be made out to Registered Post to The University of Guyana TheUniversity of Guyana Turkeyen Campus Greater Georgetown Accountability and Reporting Guyana -A receipt shall be issued when cheque or cash is received from donors Donations may also be sent electronically using the following -A certificate of contribution shall be issued for Account name: University of Guyana donors using the electrical transfer system Foreign Exchange -A register of donors will be maintained Account #: 001-124-7 Weekly report on cumulative donations received Bank Name and Address -Inform and update donors on use of funds Republic Bank Guyana Ltd 38 Water Street Donations deposited into accounts Robbstown, Georgetown -Donations entered into ledger Accounts Bank swift/ABA/ Routing -Donations disclosed in Management Reports and Financial Statements If Intermediary Bank Is Requested For further details and enquiries USA Bank of America please email NY Branch, 100 West 33rd Street [email protected] New York 10001 ABA Code: 026009593 For alumni membership and Swift Code: BOFAUS3N matters please email Account#: 6550325990 [email protected] 6 Renaissance Vol. 2 Nos. 1 & 2, January - February, 2017 Renaissance Vol. 2 Nos. 1 & 2, January - February, 2017 DID YOU KNOW? Professor Harry Annamunthodo The first Convocation of the Faculty of Medicine at the Uni- world. His speed and dexterity University of Guyana was held versity College of the West In- as a surgeon